connective tissue disorders

Autoimmune disease characterized by production of numerous autoantibodies

Lupus is the latin for wolf and erythematosus indicates red-like. Thus, LE stands for ”the red wolf” lupus vulgaris, ”the common wolf” which in the old days designated the skin of the face in patients with cutaneous tuberculosis.

Organ injury – secondary to direct binding of autoantibodies to self antigens or deposition of immunocomplexes

Peak incidence – 20-40 yrs

10 times more frequent in females

Higher incidence – black people

Chronic Cutaneous LE and Sub Acute Cutaneous LE are mainly dermatological diseases that are always restricted to the skin and to oral mucosa

Neonatal LE is most often a transient self limited disease

Dermatological, hepatic and hematologic involvement usually disappears at the age about 6 months